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By RODNEY PAGE
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 23, 2000
To Mamadou Diallo, his collision with New York/New Jersey goalkeeper Mike Ammann last Wednesday is a dead issue. To Major League Soccer, which reviewed the collision Friday, it also is in the past.
But to the MetroStars, the play still is very much a topic of discussion. The league ruled that Diallo did not purposely seek to injure Ammann, who sustained three broken ribs, a bruised jaw and a punctured abdomen in a first-half collision when both players chased a loose ball.
Diallo will not be fined or suspended.
"We've reviewed the incident hundreds of times," vice president for league operations Ivan Gazidis said. "We unanimously concluded that there was no measure of intent to hurt Mike Ammann. We also determined there was no disregard for Ammann's safety. The easiest, and most popular decision, would've been to have a suspension. I don't expect to have a lovefest over this decision, but the conclusion was there was no intent."
Don't tell that to the MetroStars. General manager Nick Sakiewicz has threatened to take the issue to FIFA, soccer's governing body.
In Sunday's game against Colorado, MetroStars defender Mike Petke scored and lifted his jersey to reveal a T-shirt. Petke wrote "Aug. 16, Crime of the Century" on the front of the shirt and "Revenge is Coming" on the back.
He was fined $250 on Tuesday.
"I wish we hadn't been put in this position by Mike," Gazidis said. "I've spoken to Mike, and he's assured me it won't happen again. But it can not go unpunished. You can not take the law into your own hands. So we have no option but to impose a fine."
MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard, now the starter but who will leave Sept. 4 for the Olympics, believes something should have been done to Diallo.
"I think it's terrible," he said. "I understand you can look at the tape a hundred times. But it only takes one view to see it was deliberate."
Diallo did not receive a card. Gazidis said the league will talk to him about further actions.
"We'll be speaking with Mamadou and (Mutiny coach Tim Hankinson) to make sure (Diallo is) conductng himself properly during our games," Gazidis said. "We want to discuss the issue with him. But at same time, we want to make sure no pattern arises. We want to speak with him and make sure he understands he's being watched very closely."
Perhaps the Mutiny and MetroStars will meet in the playoffs. Both lead their divisions with 15 wins. If they do meet, talk of the collision is sure to resurface.
Diallo said he is done talking about it.
"I tried to talk to (Ammann), and he didn't want to," Diallo said. "As far as the other players, I don't care about them. I didn't mean to do it, and I know that. I can't worry about what (the MetroStars) think about it. It's over."
Diallo is signed with MLS through this season, with an option for next season. Gazidis said the collision will not affect whether the league exercises its option.
"If we believe he is the type of player who would intentionally inflict an inury on someone, then we would not have him in our league," Gazidis said.
AROUND THE LEAGUE: D.C. United, winner of three MLS Cups, was mathematically eliminated from the playoffs Saturday with a 1-0 loss to San Jose. United (6-16-6) is the only team to appear in all four Cup matches. ... MLS is thinking about reducing next year's schedule to 28 games and starting later. This year the season is 32 games long and runs from mid-March through Oct. 15.